Even though I suck at economics (I just can't figure out how that gentleman who e-mailed me can use the ?1000 I gave him to get his own money back), this is the way I see things:
1) Healthcare is incredibly expensive. So expensive that most middle-class people probably couldn't afford a trip to the ER that involves getting a CT scan, or a surgery (last I heard, just keeping the OR functioning cost about ?1000 a day).
2) Unlike consoles, cars, or fancy clothes, healthcare isn't something you can really choose not to get. If you're sick, you either get care, or risk having a serious disease that kills you.
3) Anyone can get sick, and you can't predict when or where. Poor people possibly get sick more often and have less resources to get treatment.
So, here's what most countries do. Everyone pays a little money for healthcare, less that what treatments actually cost. That way, if you get sick, you know that you can get care and won't be left dying on the sidewalk because you forgot your credit card.
"But", I hear you say with my superhuman hearing and ability to ask imaginary questions, "What if I don't get sick? Then I'm just giving my hard-earned money for some other schmuck who couldn't even stay healthy! He may be a murderer, or a sex offender, or even... *shudder* an illegal immigrant!"
Well, sir, congratulations on not getting sick this year! Now go ahead and try to do it for 30 to 80 more years, depending on the life expectancy in your country. If you think that's easy, please refer to point 3) above.
When you do get sick, I'm guessing you won't want other people judging whether or not you deserve to get healthcare.
And here's what the US did. Instead of paying a little more taxes, you have to pay for healthcare out of your pocket. Since most people can't afford that, private companies built smaller versions of the system above, called insurance. A lot of people pay for health insurance every year even if they don't get sick, so that if they they do, the company will have enough money to pay for them. This would be great if companies didn't overcharge or outright deny coverage for people who don't have a lot of money, or already have some disease. You'll recognize these groups as those who will most likely need healthcare. So, those rich, healthy folks have access to great healthcare (until they actually need it, when the insurance company will probably start charging them more) while that poor family has no money for a 6-month long TB treatment and all those elderly with diabetes and hypertension won't even get aspirin if they have a heart attack. It's better than having to pay for everything out of your pocket, but not by much.
Now, I don't know about you, but as a patient, I'd rather know that I can get medical treatment when I need to. As a doctor, I'd rather not have to resort to trickery to help people or refuse them treatment outright. Even if it means giving a little part of my money every year that other people use to not die.
1) Healthcare is incredibly expensive. So expensive that most middle-class people probably couldn't afford a trip to the ER that involves getting a CT scan, or a surgery (last I heard, just keeping the OR functioning cost about ?1000 a day).
2) Unlike consoles, cars, or fancy clothes, healthcare isn't something you can really choose not to get. If you're sick, you either get care, or risk having a serious disease that kills you.
3) Anyone can get sick, and you can't predict when or where. Poor people possibly get sick more often and have less resources to get treatment.
So, here's what most countries do. Everyone pays a little money for healthcare, less that what treatments actually cost. That way, if you get sick, you know that you can get care and won't be left dying on the sidewalk because you forgot your credit card.
"But", I hear you say with my superhuman hearing and ability to ask imaginary questions, "What if I don't get sick? Then I'm just giving my hard-earned money for some other schmuck who couldn't even stay healthy! He may be a murderer, or a sex offender, or even... *shudder* an illegal immigrant!"
Well, sir, congratulations on not getting sick this year! Now go ahead and try to do it for 30 to 80 more years, depending on the life expectancy in your country. If you think that's easy, please refer to point 3) above.
When you do get sick, I'm guessing you won't want other people judging whether or not you deserve to get healthcare.
And here's what the US did. Instead of paying a little more taxes, you have to pay for healthcare out of your pocket. Since most people can't afford that, private companies built smaller versions of the system above, called insurance. A lot of people pay for health insurance every year even if they don't get sick, so that if they they do, the company will have enough money to pay for them. This would be great if companies didn't overcharge or outright deny coverage for people who don't have a lot of money, or already have some disease. You'll recognize these groups as those who will most likely need healthcare. So, those rich, healthy folks have access to great healthcare (until they actually need it, when the insurance company will probably start charging them more) while that poor family has no money for a 6-month long TB treatment and all those elderly with diabetes and hypertension won't even get aspirin if they have a heart attack. It's better than having to pay for everything out of your pocket, but not by much.
Now, I don't know about you, but as a patient, I'd rather know that I can get medical treatment when I need to. As a doctor, I'd rather not have to resort to trickery to help people or refuse them treatment outright. Even if it means giving a little part of my money every year that other people use to not die.